There is no single reason why a person commits a crime. What I believe to be the most common reason why a person commits crime is to meet a perceived need that out ways the consequence of the action. People are willing to do things that they would not regularly do when an important part of life is not being full filled significantly. Every person has both physical such as, food shelter, and a stable living environment and physiological such as feeling of belonging, love, friendship, and connection needs that need to be meet. Our perception of what is a need and assessment of risk can be skewed by many different thing that our out of our control. Many of these factors have environmental and or biological factors such as mental illness.
This can apply to the the crime committed in the article link provided bellow. A nurse decided to take advantage of a young woman while she was in an she was in a vulnerable state. He most likely felt that he could meet his sexual needs by having sex with a women who is in a comma and not have any repercussions. The man had a need that he felt needed to be meet and found a way that in his mind did not have much risk involved.
https://globalnews.ca/news/4926155/arizona-nurse-court-not-guilty-impregnating-patient/
Hi Rhiannon, thanks for the post. You seem to like Travis Hirschi's ideas on Social Control (p.143-4 in the CRIM text). In this the "need" you speak of may be what Hirschi says is "attachment". Why do you think an LPN would sexually assault a developmentally challenged patient? Are there other lawful ways that the LPN could've met his need?
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